High School Sports

Four consecutive losing seasons have left football players and community members frustrated with the direction Marion County High School’s football is heading in, and that frustration has many calling for a shakeup in the coaching staff.

Low scoring, running clocks and blowouts have dominated Marion County football for the past four seasons. Marion County has gone 4-36, been outscored 1,586-542, shutout five times and allowed 30 or more points in 32 of the past 40 games.

On Senior Night - their final game for Marion County - the seniors stole the show, making big plays to propel the Knights to a 36-0 victory over the Nelson County Cardinals on Friday on John J. Boswell Field.

A festive mood pre-game where Marion County’s nine seniors were honored gave way to the most complete performance Marion County has put on in quite some time. The victory gave Marion County its first shutout since Aug. 30, 2014, when the Knights (2-8, 0-4) beat Green County 33-0.

The first-ever Marion County High School Alumni Basketball Game was held Saturday evening at the Roby Dome, attracting a crowd of approximately 250 people to watch former local basketball greats take the court one more time.

Recent Marion County alumni and those who have been gone for years - like Kathy Isaacs - returned on Saturday to once again play in the historic Roby Dome.

The Marion County High School girls basketball team is hosting a dodgeball tournament on Oct. 27 at the Roby Dome. The games will start at 2 p.m. Cost is $30 for a team or $5 per player. Teams will consist of six players plus two alternates. Only 16 teams will be accepted. For more information, contact Coach Kelly Wood at 502-510-3800 or at Kelly.wood@marion.kyschools.us. The event is a fundraiser for the team.

Four soccer players for the Marion County High School girls soccer team received All-Region honors. Libby Palagi was named to the first team All-Region. Katie Beth Brady, Madison Hardin and Taylor Richardson were named to the second team All-Region.

Taylor County didn’t throw the ball much. They didn’t need to. Their ground game churned out yard after yard and score after score.

The Cardinals piled up 344 yards rushing and scored all nine of their touchdowns on the ground as they defeated Marion County 62-6 on Friday in Lebanon. The loss gave the Knights (1-8, 0-4) their fourth straight season without a district win. Marion County’s last district win came against Mercer County on Oct. 10, 2014 in a 20-19 thriller.

The Marion County High School girls and boys soccer teams recognized cancer awareness at their Oct. 3 and Oct. 6 games. Both teams wore pink headbands and socks promoting cancer awareness. They allocated half of their concessions proceeds to the Marion County Good Samaritans Foundation, and were able to donate $300 to help local individuals struggling with the disease. The soccer teams intend to make this an annual fundraising event.

He’s had a passion for swimming. Now he gets to bring that passion over to Marion County.

Alex Meade was named the next head swim coach for Marion County, taking over for Brian Pirkle, who resigned after one season as head swim coach. Pirkle resigned after taking a new job at a factory in Bardstown.

“It was a great opportunity and it was fun to coach that team,” Pirkle said.

Pirkle also resigned as head coach for the Marion Middle Baseball Team. He was head coach for two years and an assistant coach for two seasons.

All night long, the Lady Bruins hit with power. They kept Marion County guessing. They executed almost flawlessly. With all that in their favor, Central Hardin won in convincing fashion, defeating Marion County in three-sets (25-8, 25-10, 25-16) on Oct. 17 in the regional tournament semifinals at the Roby Dome.

The Lady Bruins (31-8, 11-0) advanced to their eighth regional tournament championship in nine seasons, defeating district rival Elizabethtown on Thursday to advance to the state tournament at Valley High School.